Meeting Facilities

The Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) exists primarily to provide service to the community. One of the ways it achieves this purpose is to make meeting facilities available for public gatherings.

The Library Bill of Rights, as amended in 1980 by the American Library Association Council and adopted by the CALS Board of Directors in 1980, states, “Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.” Therefore, CALS library meeting facilities will be available to anyone regardless of the content of their meeting or of the beliefs or affiliations of the sponsors. Use by the public does not imply endorsement or approval by CALS of the beliefs, positions or actions of anyone using the facilities.

CALS reserves the right to use its meeting facilities for programs that are officially sponsored by the library. Priority for use of meeting facilities will be given to library activities. Fees may be charged for library-sponsored programs.

Study rooms are available at some CALS facilities. These rooms are available for use on a first come, first served basis during the hours the library with such facilities is open. Study room facilities are available to anyone regardless of affiliation or the content of the study. Use by the public does not imply endorsement or approval by CALS of the beliefs, positions or actions of anyone using the facilities.

All public rooms described in this policy are under the supervision of the staff of each library that offers such facilities. Each library location will develop individual meeting and study room procedures, governed by administration guidelines. These procedures will be tailored to suit the available facilities and will be designed to meet the needs of the local library staff and patrons.